Nursing nipple with vented adapter



Nov. 22, 1966 w, M. PATTERSON 3,286,864

NURSING NIPPLE WITH VENTED ADAPTER Filed Oct. 21, 1964 William M.Patterson INVENIOR.

m' WW Em United States Patent 3,286,864 NURSING NIPPLE WITH VENTEDADAPTER William M. Patterson, Akron, Ohio, assignor to Jay D. Lenner,Summit County, Ohio Filed Oct. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 405,463 3 Claims. (Cl.215-11) The present invention relates to nursing bottles and nipples,generally speaking, and has more particular reference to aconventional-type nursing bottle having a screw-threaded mouth or neckwith a terminal lip, a nipple applying and clamping cap with ascrew-threaded ring embracing and screwed on the bottle neck, said ringbeing provided with a holddown flange and said flange serving toposition and properly mount a flanged adapter carrying an attachable anddetachable nipple.

Persons conversant with the art to which the invention relates are awarethat it is common practice in this line of endeavor to provide aso-called wide mouth or neck nursing bottle and to clampingly mount anattaching and retaining flange at the base of a nipple atop the lipportion of the bottle mouth and to assemble the bottle and nipple by wayof a knurled or similarly constructed and performing cap ring, that is aring or rim portion which is screwed on the bottle and which is providedwith a turned in or horizontal flange which overlies the nipple flange.Such a construction and arrangement is shown to be old, for example, inthe nipple patent of Bray 2,889,063, of June 2, 1959.

It is also old in this line of endeavor to resort to the use of many andvaried styles and forms of nipples and, as a matter of fact, to employnot only the aforementioned cap ring but, in addition, to utilize anadapter which makes it possible to use a nipple with a smaller flangedbase portion, one which can, if desired, be attached to a beaded neck ona soft drink or equivalent bottle. Such a construction and arrangementis shown, for example, in my prior Patent 2,424,629 identified as aNursing Nipple and Bottle and patented on July 29, 1947. My prior patentfeatures a flanged dust cap which is usable for sanitary purposes whenthe invertible nipple is inverted and fitted into the nursing bottleWhen the nipple is not being used. In addition, my prior patent ischaracterized by a fairly rigid rubber or equivalent adapter collar.This collar encircles the reduced shouldered neck portion of the nippleand has an outer marginal flange which flange is applied atop the lip ofthe bottles neck and which can be held in place by the inturned flangeon the cap ring.

With the general state of the prior art appearing as above and afterhaving considered the same it will be clear that a general objective ofthe instant invention is to be structurally, functionally and in otherWays improve upon the prior patents mentioned, more particularly, toprovide air venting means, that is means which will be effective at alltimes to prevent collapsing of the nipple during use and traceable, asis well know, to pressure reduction within the confines of the milk areaof the nursing bottle.

It may be stated here that it is not new in the art to provide a nipplehaving means which is constructed with a view toward insuring continuedventing even when the nipple is in its distended infant using state. Anumber of prior patents could be cited to reveal the state of the art onthis aspect of the concept, for example the aforementioned Bray Patent2,889,063. It will be clear that one of the objectives in the instantpresentation is to introduce satisfactorily performing bottle ventingmeans into a structural combination revealed in my prior Patent2,424,629. To the ends desired the present invention is accordinglycharacterized by component parts which correspond in a part-for-part andfeature-for-feature manner with the prior patents. It will be noted thatby comparison the present invention embodies a nipple which is improvedin that the supporting and re-t-aining flange at the base of the neckportion thereof instead of being plain on the top side is provided withan endless channel, a channel which provides a keyway and which in turnserves to accommodatingly seat a keying and assembling rib formed on thebottom side of an improved adapter collar.

More significantly and therefore more important, the chief improvementresides in the specific form and construction ofthe substantially hardrubber adapter collar. This is to say the collar is provided on thebottom side with a substantially endless rib which can be keyed into thekeyway of the base flange of the nipple to provide a satisfactory sealand at the same time to allow for pressure responsive ventilating needs.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention the adaptercollar is characterized by an outstanding adapter mounting and retainingflange which seats atop the lip of the neck of the bottle and which isclamped by the flange of the cap ring or rim. The exposed upper edge ofthe collar is provided with at least one atmospheric air intake orificeor port which is communicable with a kerf, the kerf being provided in anendless rib, that is a rib which is formed integrally on the bottom ofthe collar and which is so arranged that the outer peripheral edge isspaced from the outer peripheral edge of the holddown flange and theinner peripheral edge is flush with the circular opening inherentlypresent in the collar.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereina'fter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing a conventional nursing'bottle, a generally conventional screwtype nipple positioning andclamping cap or cap ring and further showing an applicable and removablenipple (like the one shown in my prior Patent 2,424,629) and theimproved vented adapter collar;

FIGURE 2 i an enlarged fragmentary View with parts in section andelevation taken on the plane of the vertical line 22 of FIGURE 1 lookingin the direction of the arrows and wherein the nipple has been invertedto telescope into the neck of the bottle and the sanitary type dust cap.has been applied;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the dust cap removedand with the component parts, the nipple and adapter collar in assembledready-to-use relationship;

FIGURE 4 is a View in perspective of the improved adapter ring with aportion broken away and showing the details of construction; and

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the adapter collar shown in FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the views of the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1,2, and 3 it will be seen that the nursing bottle is of ordinaryconstruction, is denoted at 6 and has a neck 7 screw-threaded at 8 andfashioned in a wide mouth neck 9 having a flat terminal lip 10. Thescrew-threaded neck is adapted to accommodate the conventional typeso-called cap ring or clamping cap which is denoted at 11, has ascrew-threaded ring or rim 12 screwed on the neck and provided with aturned in endless holddown and clamping flange 13.

As the prior art reveals the components so far described in detail areold and well known. In fact, it is old, as shown in my prior patent, toprovide a rubber compressibly pliant nipple 14 for infant feeding and aspecially designed and performing adapter 16. The nipple comprises anannular reinforced shoulder 18 on the body portion which merges into anupstanding reduced nipple 20. The lower or basal part of the body isfashioned into a neck 22 haw'ng an outstanding endless base flange 24the inner peripheral edge of which is beveled at 26 to permit it to befastened onto the head of an ordinary soft drink bottle as shown in FIG.3 of prior Patent 2,424,629. It will be seen that the distinction is inproviding the upper side of the flange 24 with a shallow endless grooveor channel 28 which constitutes a keyway for an endless annular rib 30formed at the center of the bottom of the improved vented adapter 16.This adapter comprises a one piece unit embodying a collar having asmooth inner peripheral surface 31, a sloping outer surface 32 merginginto the flat or planar side of an endless attaching and retainingflange 34. This flange is of a diameter that the outer edge'portionrests on the lip and is accrdingly, when in use, clamped between theclamping flange 13 and the lip 10 as shown in 'both positions; that is,in the usable position in FIG. 3 and the inverted nippleout-of-useposition shown in FIG. 2. It will be evident that the innerperipheral surface 35 of the rib 30 is smooth, that is, flush with theperipheral surface 31 of, the collar proper. It will be noted, too, thatthe outer peripheral surface 36 of the rib is spaced inwardly from theperipheral edge of the flange 34 and that the underneath side of theflange is flat as denoted at 38. The flat surface 38 is above the planeof the bottom of the rib andthe rib is provided at a predetermined pointwith a kerf or notch 40. The notch provides a vent (orifice or port) andis coopera'ble and communicable with a notch or cooperating air inletport or orifice 42 which is formed in the collar proper.

It will be evident that the aforementioned improvement reside in keyingthe rib 30 in the channel 28 as shown in FIG. 3 in particular. The otherimprovement is in the provision of a rib 30 which is so constructed anddimensioned to fit into the channel and which has a simple kerf 40 whichopens into the space of the collar.

as illustrated in FIG. 5. In other words, this open ended kerf 40 islined up with the port or orifice 42 and the orifice 42 is located sothat it communicates with the atmosphere. It follows that when thenipple is being nursedthe distortion or deforming of the same (assuggested in FIG. 3 (facilitates providing a satisfactory venting actionwith the result that the infant is fed uninterruptedly without thelikelihood of vacuum in the bottle and neck causing either the bottle(if plastic) or nipple to objectionably collapse.

It will be evident that the dust cap (which is shown in the priorpatent) is denoted at 44 has a marginal rib 46 and an applicator andretaining flange 48 which can be sandwiched and clamped between theholddown and retaining flange 34 and lip of the bottle neck.

It is submitted that a careful consideration of the state ment andobjectives set forth by the introductory portion of the specificationwhen taken in conjunction with the detailed description, the inventionas claimed and views of the drawing will enable the reader .to obtain aclear and comprehensive understanding of the component parts and howthey are constructed and functionally cooperate. Accordingly, a moreextended description is regarded as unnecessary.

4 The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those. skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a nursing nipple having a body portion provided withoutstanding endless reinforcing shoulder, also provided below saidshoulder with a neck provided at its bottom with an outstanding endlessflange,

the top surface of said flangebeing. provided with an bottle having ascrew-threaded neck with a wide mouth terminating in a lip, said. nippleembodying a body portion, a nipple portion, and a base portion, saidbody portion being provided with an outstanding endless reins forcingshoulder, said base portion being provided at a bottom part thereof withan outstanding endless flange spaced from and parallel. to saidreinforcing shoulder,

that portion of the nipple between the shoulder and flange constitutinga neck, said flange having a top surface provided with an upwardlyopening relatively shallow channel constituting a keyway, an adaptercollarannular in' plan and having a smooth inner peripheral surface andan end less collar attaching and retaining flange of a diameter that theouter edge portion thereof is adapted, when in use, to rest atop theaforementioned lip, the underneath side of said collar being providedwith an endless annular depending rib constituting a nipple positioningand assem-.

bling key, said key corresponding in cross-sectional dimension with andbeing removably keyed in said keyway, the

surface provided with a notch defining an air. inlet orifice.

3. The structure defined in claim 2,.and wherein said notch opensthrough the inner peripheral surface, said top portion sloping outwardlyand downwardly and having an outer marginal edge portion merging intothe top side of the endless flange of said collar, and said orificebeing on the same side as and oriented and aligned with said kerf.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,093,730 9/ 1937Kurkjian.

2,424,629 7/ 1947 Patterson 128252 2,885,104 5/1959 Greenspan 215-11 X2,956,702 10/1960 Ransom 215-11 JOSEPH R.-LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

D. F. NORTON, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION, A NURSING NIPPLE HAVING A BODY PORTION PROVIDED WITHOUTSTANDING ENDLESS REINFORCING SHOULDER, ALSO PROVIDED BELOW SAIDSHOULDER WITH A NECK PROVIDED AT ITS BOTTOM WITH AN OUTSTANDING ENDLESSFLANGE, THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID FLANGE BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ENDLESSCHANNEL CONSTITUTING A KEYWAY, AN ADAPTER COLLAR SNUGLY EMBRACING SAIDNECK AND FITTED BETWEEN SAID SHOULDER AND FLANGE AND HAVING AN ENDLESSRIB REMOVABLY KEYED IN SAID KEYWAY, SAID RIB HAVING A BENTING KERFTHEREIN, SAID COLLAR HAVING AN OUTSTANDING MOUNTING AND CLAMPING FLANGEADAPTED TO BE SEATED ON THE LIP OF A CAPEQUIPPED BOTTLE NECK, AND SAIDCOLLAR BEING FURTHER PROVIDED WITH AN AIR INLET ORIFICE, SAID ORIFICEBEING COMMUNICABLE WITH SAID KERF.